Press centre
Press releases and news notes
School collapses as major earthquake hits China
BEIJING, 12 May 2008 - UNICEF China is deeply concerned that large numbers of children could be affected by a major earthquake in Sichuan Province.
UNICEF concerned about emotional distress of children in Myanmar
NEW YORK/BANGKOK, 12 May 2008 - UNICEF is setting up child-friendly spaces in camps giving shelter to people affected by Cyclone Nargis.
UNICEF welcomes the ratification of the UN Disabilities Convention
NEW YORK, 12 May 2008 - The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol, which came into force on 3 May 2008...
UNICEF flying in emergency supplies to Myanmar
NEW YORK, May 9, 2008 - A Thai Airways plane carrying UNICEF emergency supplies landed in Yangon today, carrying three million water purification tablets.
UNICEF seeks $8.2 million to meet the critical needs of children and women affected by the cyclone in Myanmar
GENEVA, 8 May 2008 – UNICEF has requested an initial $8.2 million for its emergency operation to assist the survivors of Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar.
UNICEF on the ground in Myanmar delivering critical supplies
NEW YORK, 6 May 2008 – Some 130 UNICEF technical and operations staff continued to travel to the areas affected...
UNICEF in Myanmar: Rapid response critical to saving lives
NEW YORK, May 5 2008 – UNICEF is undertaking urgent preliminary assessments of the devastation caused by Cyclone Nargis...
Djibouti: First country to launch the joint UNFPA/UNICEF global program to accelerate the abandonment of FGM/C
DJIBOUTI, 8 May 2008 – Djibouti First Lady Ms Kadra Mahamoud Haïd launched the UNFPA/UNICEF Joint Programme and Trust Fund to accelerate...
UNICEF expresses deep concern at reports of child casualties in attacks on North Darfur villages
KHARTOUM, 6 May 2008 - UNICEF is deeply concerned at reports that a number of children have been killed during attacks on two villages of North Darfur...
UNICEF and JICA launch partnership for community-based early childhood care and education in Niger
NIAMEY, 6 May 2008 – The Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and UNICEF are joining forces to bring essential early childhood services to...
Malnutrition at emergency levels in Pinga Health Zone, North Kivu, DRC; UNICEF and partners set up emergency nutritional response
GOMA, 7 May 2008 - Malnutrition rates are at emergency levels in the Pinga health zone in northwestern Masisi Territory, North Kivu, DRC due...
UNICEF welcomes the release of 232 child soldiers in Burundi
BUJUMBURA,BURUNDI/GENEVA, 2 May 2008 – UNICEF praised the release of 232 child soldiers on April 25, following eight months of negotiations...
UNICEF welcomes spotlight on a major cause of childhood deaths in latest WHO Bulletin
NEW YORK, 1 May 2008 - UNICEF today welcomed the launch of a comprehensive review of research into childhood pneumonia,
Former Child Soldier and current UNICEF Advocate encourages Jamaican Youth
KINGSTON, 30 April 2008 - Wrapping up his first mission as UNICEF’s Advocate for Children Affected by War, former child soldier Ishmael Beah today...
On World Malaria Day, UNICEF Calls for a Sustained Effort to Control Killer Disease
NEW YORK, 25 April 2008 – On World Malaria Day, UNICEF is calling for a sustained effort to control the disease.
Statement by Executive Director Ann M. Veneman on food price increases
Statement - 24 April 2008
UN Envoy hails progress of Afghan schools during Global Action Week for Education
Kabul, 23 April 2008 – The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan (SRSG), Kai Eide today lauded the progress made by Afghanistan’s schools during a week of international action calling for the inclusive education of all school age children around the globe.
The Government of the Netherlands grants $13.5 million to support a programming approach to early childhood development
Den Haag, 18 April 2008 - The Government of the Netherlands has announced a grant of $13,5 million, via UNICEF, to support a programme on early childhood development in selected countries.
Irish Aid and UNICEF sign new partnership agreement increasing funding for world’s children
NEW YORK, 23 April 2008 – UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman and Michael Kitt, Minister of State for Overseas Development at the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs, today signed....
Critical health care fails to reach most women and children in high mortality countries despite gains in fighting child killer diseases
CAPE TOWN, 16 APRIL 2008 – Leading global health experts, policy-makers and parliamentarians are convening in Cape Town today to address the urgent need for accelerated...
Policy-makers in South Asia gather to discuss social protection strategies for children
DHAKA, 15 April 2008 - Policy-makers from eight countries of South Asia today gathered in Dhaka for a symposium organized by UNICEF...
Evaluation “ENLACE” 2008: An effort towards quality education in Mexico
MEXICO CITY, 14 APRIL 2008 - UNICEF today participated in the launch of the third round of “ENLACE” a nationwide test of education in Mexico with the participation...
Workshop on psychosocial care and protection of children in crisis in Jordan
AMMAN, 13 April 2008 – UNICEF in collaboration with Jordan’s Ministry of Education organized a workshop to provide counsellors with appropriate...
UNICEF and partners organize national peer education workshop on HIV and AIDS in Yemen
SANA’A, 13 April 2008 - Over 120 young people from Aden, Hadhramout, Mahweet, Hodeida, Taiz and Sana’a met here today in a three-day workshop...
Arabic Humanitarian Action Report 2008 launched today in Dubai
AMMAN / DUBAI, 9 April 2008 – UNICEF today launched its annual Arabic version of the Humanitarian Action Report (HAR) 2008...
UNICEF welcomes signing of Children’s Act into law in South Africa
CAPE TOWN, 8 April 2008 -UNICEF today welcomed the signing of the Children’s Amendment Act by the President of the Republic of South Africa...
Myung-Whun Chung, appointed UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador
PARIS, 7 April 2008 – Myung-Whun Chung, director of Radio-France’s Philharmonic Orchestra and one of the world’s most renowned conductors...
World Health Day 2008 - UNICEF cautions about the impact of climate change on the health of women and children
NEW YORK, 7 April - The impact of climate change could fall disproportionately on women and children, UNICEF cautioned today, on the occasion of World Health Day 2008.
More HIV-positive children and pregnant women getting AIDS treatment, new report says
NEW YORK, 3 April 2008 – More HIV-positive children and pregnant women are receiving treatment but there is still a long way to go before the...
Ecuador becomes the 20th State Party to ratify UN Disability Rights Convention
NEW YORK, 4 April 2008 - UNICEF today welcomes Ecuador’s ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)...
UNICEF launches State of the World’s Children 2008 in Guinea Bissau
BISSAU, 1 April 2008 – The Portuguese version of UNICEF’s annual flagship report The State of the World’s Children 2008: Child SurvivaL...
Japan allocates US$5 million to WFP and UNICEF in Zambia
LUSAKA, 31 March 2008 - The Government of Japan has decided to allocate US$5 million to the Republic of Zambia through UNICEF and the World Food Programme (WFP).
Lebanon starts national anti-measles and rubella campaign targeting over 900,000 children
Beirut, 31 March 2008 – Lebanon started a national anti-measles and anti-rubella vaccination campaign today targeting more than 900,000 children, as part of its...
UNICEF relieved at release of state water corporation drivers in Darfur, but repeats call for end to all attacks
KHARTOUM, 28 March 2008 - UNICEF today expresses its relief at the release of four drivers from the State Water Corporation in North Darfur, who...
UNICEF and partners launch Girls’ Education Initiative in Nigeria
BAUCHI /NIGERIA, 28 March 2008 - In a concerted effort to address gender disparity in girls’ education in northern Nigeria, UNICEF and partners today launched...
Statement by the Office of Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan on Attacks Against Humanitarian Actors
Khartoum, 26 March 2008 - The humanitarian community in Sudan is raising its voice today against intolerable attacks that are putting the humanitarian...
UNICEF and Family Health International Expand PMTCT Services in Zambia Province
MANSA/ ZAMBIA, 26 March 2008 – Family Health International (FHI) and UNICEF have joined forces to provide quality services for the prevention...
10,000 health workers stop polio in one of most dangerous places on earth
GENEVA, 25 March 2008 – Somalia is again polio-free, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) announced today, calling it a 'historic achievement...
The Government of Japan donates US$4 million to support the rehabilitation of schools and health centres in the Republic of the Congo
BRAZZAVILLE, 24 March 2008 - The Government of Japan has announced a grant of more than US$4 million, or 1.8 billion francs CFA, via UNICEF...
6 in 10 Africans remain without access to proper toilet: poor sanitation threatens public health
GENEVA, 20 March 2008 – Sixty-two percent of Africans do not have access to an improved sanitation facility -- a proper toilet -- which separates human waste from human...
Sanitation becoming a luxury in Iraq
AMMAN/ERBIL/GENEVA, 20 March 2008 – Lack of sanitation and polluted water supplies are reaching crisis levels in Iraq, causing illness in children and increased hardship, according...
Adequate sanitation: The key to curbing cholera
SOMALIA, 20 March 2008 - On the occasion of International Water Day, UNICEF Representative Christian Balslev-Olesen, took the time to highlight...
UNICEF sends emergency education supplies to Zambia
LUSAKA, 19 March 2008 – As part of its emergency response to assist flood affected Zambian schools, UNICEF, has flown in 58 schools-in-a-box from its supply division in Copenhagen...
103 children from Abéché return to their families
N’Djamena, 18 March 2008 - Four and a half months after the failed attempt by a French NGO, Zoe’s Ark, to fly them out of Chad to France, 103...
Children’s voices heard at COHSOD in the Caribbean
GEORGETOWN/GUYANA, 17 March 2008 - The voices of Caribbean children were heard loudly on Monday at the official opening of the 2nd Special...
Massive measles vaccination campaign wraps up in Pakistan
WASHINGTON D.C., 17 MARCH 2008 —The final phase of a national vaccination campaign to protect the children of Pakistan against measles is being...
Injury a leading killer for children in Asia
BANGKOK, 11 March 2008 - Children in Asia are at great risk of dying from injuries such as drowning and road accidents. Surveys from Bangladesh...
UNICEF marks International Women’s Day by stressing importance of investing in maternal health
NEW YORK, 7 March 2008 – UNICEF is marking International Women’s Day 2008 (8 March) by drawing attention to the need for improvements in...
UNICEF call for entries for children broadcasting awards
NEW YORK, 10 March 2008 - UNICEF today called for entries from broadcasters for the 2008 International Children’s Day of Broadcasting Awards.
UNICEF supporting the Government of Chad to reunite children taken by French NGO with their families
NEW YORK, 7 March 2008 - The Government of Chad, supported by UNICEF, UNHCR, ICRC and the Chadian Red Cross, is working towards the immediate...
HIV/AIDS implementers’ meeting to highlight progress and lessons learned
WASHINGTON, DC, 10 March 2008 – HIV/AIDS implementers from around the world will gather in Kampala, Uganda, from June 3-7 for the 2008 HIV/AIDS...
Japan donates close to US $2 million for child survival in Liberia
MONROVIA, 10 March 2008 - The Government of Japan (GOJ) and UNICEF signed today, in the presence of the Assistant Minister for Curative ServiceS...
Mitigating the impact of armed violence on children and communities in the Caribbean and Central America
KINGSTON, 7 March 2008 – Several Caribbean and Central American countries have called for an expansion of social interventions as a critical way....
Japan donation provides major boost for children in Northern Uganda
KAMPALA, 7 March 2008 – UNICEF today received US$5 million from the Government of Japan to rapidly revitalize two of the most critical community...
Countries must expand services to protect mothers and children from HIV/AIDS, Global Health Organizations Urge
WASHINGTON D.C., 5 March 2008 – Countries must address the critical need to scale up services for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission...
UNICEF Statement on situation in Gaza
Statement - 1 March 2008
Integrated Health Strategies Can Save Children’s Lives, says UNICEF Flagship, State of the World’s Children Report 2008
GENEVA, 22 JANUARY 2008 – Strategies that can help reduce the number of children who die before their fifth birthday were highlighted today, at the launch of UNICEF’s flagship report...
UNICEF Executive Director first UN agency head to visit Sierra Leone since the September 2007 elections
FREETOWN, 29 February 2008 - UNICEF Executive Director, Ann M. Veneman today participated in President Ernest Bai Koroma’s launch of...
The Government of Ecuador declares state of emergency due to flooding
ECUADOR, 29 February 2008- The Government of Ecuador has declared a national state of emergency due to extensive flooding caused by heavy...
UNICEF Executive Director, Ann M. Veneman concludes visit to Liberia announcing more than $19 million in assistance
MONROVIA, 27 February 2008 - UNICEF Executive Director, Ann M. Veneman, concluded her three day visit to Liberia announcing more than $19 million....
Education is a right, but it’s everybody’s responsibility
BUENOS AIRES, 28 February 2008 - The Argentine Minister of Education, Juan Carlos Tedesco, and the UNICEF Representative in Argentina, Gladys Acosta Vargas...
UN agencies unite against female genital mutilation
NEW YORK, 27 February 2008 – Expressing their commitment to the elimination of female genital mutilation, also called female genital cutting and female genital...
A national campaign in Zimbabwe against child abuse
HARARE, 27 February 2008 - The number of reported cases of children being raped in Zimbabwe has increased by more than 40 per cent in the...
UNICEF Executive Director announces US$19 million in funding for Liberia
MONROVIA, 25 February 2008 - During her first visit to Liberia, UNICEF Executive Director, Ann M. Veneman announced that US$17 million will become...
Global expert on violence urges Jamaican parliament to focus on children
KINGSTON, 26 February 2008 – A leading authority on violence against children today pressed Parliamentarians to concentrate on the plight of children...
UNICEF says ‘Thank You’ to IKEA customers and co-workers
GENEVA, 25 February 2008 – Between 3 November and 24 December 2007, IKEA donated 1 Euro for every soft toy sold in all its stores globally...
UNICEF-Dubai Cares partnership benefits schoolchildren in Djibouti
DUBAI /NEW YORK, 25 February 2008 – UNICEF and Dubai Cares announced today the launch of new education programmes in Djibouti that will help accelerate access to education...
UNICEF supplies two million yellow fever vaccinations for Paraguay
ASUNCION, 25 February 2008 – UNICEF supplied two million anti-yellow fever vaccinations in response to an emergency declared by the Government...
UNICEF provides US$1 million in emergency supplies to Zambia
LUSAKA, 22 February 2008 – UNICEF will provide more than US$1 million in emergency assistance including tents, school supplies, and basic household items to approximately...
UNICEF Statement on the decision of the German Institute for Social Issues (DZI) to withdraw its seal of approval from the German National Committee for UNICEF
Statement - 20 February 2008
Statement by Executive Director Ann M. Veneman concerning the situation of children in Sudan
Statement - 19 February 2008
International Mother Language Day celebrated in Latin America and Caribbean
PANAMA, 21 February 2008 - On the occasion of International Mother Language Day, Nils Kastberg, the Regional Director of UNICEF in Latin America...
Statement on findings about the German National Committee for UNICEF
Statement - 19 February 2008
UNICEF and Dubai Cares join forces to help provide education for one million children
New York/Dubai, 19 February 2008 – UNICEF and Dubai Cares announced today a new partnership to boost access for children to education.
UNICEF Executive Board members visit child friendly school in northern Lao PDR
OUDOMXAY, NORTHERN LAO PDR, 13 February 2008 - Children at Nongboua primary school in Oudomxay’s La district laid on a warm welcome...
UNICEF appeals for $856 million to aid children and women in emergencies
GENEVA, 12 February 2008 - UNICEF launched its Humanitarian Action Report (HAR) 2008 today, calling on donors to provide $856 million to assist...
Number of armed groups or forces using child soldiers increases from 40 to 57
NEW YORK, 12 February 2008 - Coinciding with the sixth anniversary of the Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict, the Security...
UNICEF in Central America to promote of the rights of unaccompanied migrant children
MEXICO CITY, 12 February 2008- UNICEF representatives from Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama will visit the border....
UNICEF sends emergency supplies to Tajikistan
DUSHANBE , 12 February 2008 – UNICEF has dispatched emergency supplies for more than US $200,000 to meet the immediate life-saving needs...
UNICEF Executive Board members discuss children’s issues with senior government officials
VIENTIANE, 11 February 2008 - A review of the situation of children and women in Lao PDR was at the centre of discussions today between...
UNICEF statement on the resignation of Dietrich Garlichs and the ongoing debate about the German National Committee
Statement - 8 February 2008
Statement by UNICEF concerning the case of Omar Khadr
Statement - 2 February 2008
Nickelodeon and UNICEF launch a new initiative aimed at motivating children in Latin America
MIAMI / FLORIDA, 25 January 2008 – UNICEF and Nickelodeon Latin America announced the launch of a new initiative aimed at bringing about positive...
Mumps epidemic sweeps Moldova
CHISINAU, 5 February 2008 – UNICEF and the World Health Organisation(WHO) have launched a joint appeal for $US 1.9 million to purchase mumps...
The hopes of Kenya’s children hanging in the balance
NAIROBI, 25 January 2008 - The hopes of hundreds of thousands of Kenyan children and their families hang in the balance as the two leaders in...
UNICEF trains Government of Southern Sudan water managers
JUBA, 28 January 2008 - UNICEF and the Government of Southern Sudan are conducting a three weeks intensive capacity-building training programme...
Hundreds of thousands of children suffer the consequences of the post-election crisis in Kenya
NAIROBI, 16 January 2008 - UNICEF estimates that at least 100,000 children have been displaced in Kenya since the crisis began with as...
Turkmenistan Government to fully support flour fortification
TURKMENISTAN, 14 January 2008 – UNICEF welcomes the Turkmenistan Government’s self-sustainable flour fortification programme.
Relief effort underway as number of displaced by Mozambique floods continues to rise
MAPUTO, 14 January 2008 – UNICEF said today it is scaling up its response in central Mozambique as the number of people displaced by...
2009 Caribbean Games to shine spotlight on Violence against children
PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD, TOBAGO, 11 January 2008 –UNICEF has teamed up with the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for the 2009 Caribbean...
As violence ebbs, UNICEF joins other agencies in providing aid for up to 100,000 people in Kenya
NAIROBI, 9 January 2008 - As the unrest that rocked Kenya quells, UNICEF and other agencies are rushing to provide aid for up to 100,000 people...
UNICEF steps up its emergency response to the Mozambique floods
Maputo, 7 January 2008 – UNICEF is stepping up its emergency response in Mozambique as the country is bracing itself for widespread...
Niger measles drive targets 2.9 million under five children
NIAMEY, 7 January 2008 – President Tandja of Niger today kicked off a major campaign to vaccinate 2.9 million children against measles.
UNICEF ready with critical supplies for children affected by unrest in Kenya
NAIROBI, 4 January 2008 - As roads begin opening in Kenya and transport becomes possible, UNICEF is working with the Kenya Red Cross to....
UNICEF welcomes International Year of Sanitation 2008
NEW YORK, 1 January 2008 – UNICEF today officially welcomed the first day of the International Year of Sanitation 2008. The international year...
Launch of UNICEF flagship State of the World’s Children 2008 Report
Media Advisory
UNICEF: Children and AIDS - Second stocktaking report
Media Advisory
